Hand-bag, &amp;c., and method of framing the same.



L. A. SAMSTAG.

HAND BAG, &c., AND METHOD OF FRAMING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY7. 1915.

1,153,958. PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co.,wAsmNnTON, D. c.

L. A. SAMSTAG;

HAND BAG, &c., AND METHOD OF FRAMING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY], 1915.

l 1 53,958. Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEE] 2.

I l/E/VTOR 8 m AITORNELS COLUMBIA PLANDBRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

LOUIS ALBERT SAMSTAG, OF YORK, N. Y.

HAND-BAG, &c., AND METHOD OF FRAIVIING THE SAIVIE.

Application filed May 7, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS ALBERT SAM- srac, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Bags, &c., and Methods of Framing the Same; and I do hereby declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the manner of carrying out my improved process and the improved article produced thereby, and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ladys hand bag manufactured in accordance with my improved process and embodying my invention, the same being selected by me for the purpose of illustrating the invention, a portion of the bag frame being broken away to show the edge binding within the same. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the bag body showing it in open position and with half of the mouth of the bag provided with my improved edge binding, attached thereto, in accordance with my improved process. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view partly broken away, showing the channel frame members. F ig. t'is a detail view illustrating the manner of applying the channel frame member to the bound edge of the bag. Figs. 5 to 15 illustrate in detail, various forms of edge binding units which may be employed in carrying out my invention.

In the manufacture of flexible articles of leather, fabrics or other flexible materials, in which a metallic frame is required to be firmly and permanently connected with the edge of the flexible material, and usually with raw edges of the body material in conjunction with one or more thicknesses of; lining, considerable difficulty is encountered in order to accomplish this union of flexible and rigid material in'a neat and workmanlike manner. This is especially true where, as is usually the case, the frame member or membersis or arejornamentalor. ornamented and cannot be subjected to undue handling without injury either to the frame Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept.21, 1915.

Serial No. 26,608.

itself or the ornamental surface thereof. Such articles, for example, are ladies hand bags, pocket-books, purses, reticules, etc., and my invention is peculiarly applicable to the manufacture of such articles, although I do not limit myself thereto, as it is applicable to the manufacture of any article in which the edges of soft pliable or flexible material are to be secured to a stiff or rigid inclosing frame member.

In the manufacture of the articles above enumerated, the frames are ordinarily made of metal and if polished, are usually lacquered, and if unpolished are usually covered, and in either case, may be ornamented by embossing or otherwise, all of which precludes the treatment of the frame itself, which is usually of channel or U-shaped construction (in cross section), by anything but the most delicate operations and handling. It therefore becomes a serious manufacturing problem to insert the raw edges of the flexible material, especially when accompanied by interior linings of leather, silk, satin, etc., neatly within the channels of the frame members throughout the entire extent of the same, and secure them therein, so as to preclude the possibility of their becoming detached during the use of the article and showing the raw edges in the exterior or interior of the finished article. In an effort to meet this situation, it has been customary heretofore to provide an inner frame, technically termed an inlay, as a continuous channeled member to conform exactly to the shape and form of each frame member and capable of sliding within the same, and this inlay or inner frame member has been first attached to the raw edges of the pliable materials and is flattened or clamped thereto throughout practically its entire extent, after which the inner frame is slid into place within the channeled frame member and secured therein by rivets passing through both frames, the exterior frame concealing tool marks and anyother injury to the appearance of theinner frame or inlay. This construction, however, involves a great deal of expense, as it is more difficult to insert the raw edge uniformly and neatly within the channel of the inner frame than it is to insert in the channel of the main frame, which is larger,1and highly skilled labor is required to accomplish this result, especially where folds and corners of peculiar shape and other irregularities are encountered, as

is the case particularly in hand bags and analogous articles, the skilled labor and time required to attach the inner frame or inlay adding greatly to the expense of the finished article.

The object of my invention is to provide a new construction for this purpose, and a new mode of operation, whereby an inner frame or stiffening binding, composed of a plurality of separate binding units, can be appliedto the raw edges of the flexible and pliable material or materials and the lining or linings sectionally, thereof, that to say, along a small portion of such edges at a time, and preferably successively and pro gressiiely, the application of one binding unit holding the portions of material inclosed within it in proper relation to each other, and facilitating the application of the next binding unit, and so on, following the outline of the edge to be inclosed in the frame member, and permitting the edge to be so provided with the sectional binding, which is'preferably of metal, by the use of unskilled labor, while atthe same time, securing a substantially uniform stiffened inner frame or binding having its exterior surfaces substantially smooth and continuous, so that it may be inserted readily into the channel of an exterior channeled frame member and can then be secured therein by means independent of the exterior frame as by riveting or in any other desired manner,

without compressing the channeled frame member to close the channel thereof or otherwise exposing the frame member itself to rough handling, and in this manner, the entire manufacture of the article is simplilied and the cost very materially reduced by the elimination of time and skilled labor now required for its production.

In order to illustrate my invention, I have selected a hand bag, which is illustrated in I Fig. 1, and which has its main body formed of leather, indicated at 1, provided with a lining 2 which may beof leather, silk, satin,

The side poror other suitable material. tions of the bag are also preferable formed with an intermediate lining 3 of card board, felt board, canvas, or other suitable material, which may comprise one or more layers, so that at the mouth of the bag, thereare a plurality of raw edges of theseveral layers of material which are to be united to the members of the frame. In'the drawings I have illustrated one form of exterior bag frame which comprises a pair of hinged members 4-4, pivotally connected at 5, eachmember being substantially U-shaped in the form shown, and each member being substantially U-shaped'in cross section, as

' shown best in Fig. 3, forming the channels 6-6, One frame member is also provided with retaining catch 7, adapted to be en gaged by a lock-ing detent 8, on the oth r reinforced with a segmental piece of leather or other suitable material, as indicated at 11%11, to protect the edge from sharp corners of the terminal portions of the frame.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of what I term the binding unit, which in its simplest form, is illustrated in Fig. 15, as shown at 19, and which comprises a short section of stiff material, U-shaped in cross section, so as .to provide a channel 12 to receive the raw edges of the material, to which the binding unit is secured permanently in any desired manner. 'I prefer to form these units of sheet metal which is flexible, but non-elastic, and to flatten or compress the side portions of the unit together upon the inclosed material with sufficient force topermanently attach the same, the metal being of such character that it will remain in any formto which it is compressed or flattened, without springing back. These binding units are most conveniently applied by commencing at a point not far from the meeting of the bag mouth, the several plies of material being gathered together in proper relation toeach other, and placed within the unit, which is then clamped or flattened upon, or otherwise secured, to the inclosed edges. The effectof the clamping and confining of the small portion of the edges in proper relation, firmly holds the various fabrics in such relative positions that the adjacent portions of the edges are practically in proper position to receive the next unit, and this makes the application of the successive units easy for an unskilled person, if, as is the case, the edges are properly trimmed and prepared. then applied to the edge adjacent and preferably in contact with the first unit, and successive units are applied one after the other, until the entire edge portion to be inclosed in an exterior frame member is completely bound, the binding units formother desired manner, so that they will be held in proper relation, and this will facili- 'A second unit isv point of the edges 1010 lot tatc the application of the binding units. The binding units may be placed close together, that is to say, their end portions may abut, and when firmly clamped to the materials which they inclose, will give considerable stiffness to the edge throughout its entire extent. To facilitate the application of these binding units around curved edges, the ends of the units are in some cases chamfered or beveled, as indicated at 13 for example, in Fig. 13, in which the units are indicated at 13. ()bviously when these units are used on a straight portion of the edge, as indicated at the right in Fig. 13, these chamfered edges will separate slightly, but without interfering with the continuity or rigidity of the bound edge.

I prefer to positively connect the adjacent units with each other by interlocking means in order that the inner frame or binding may have as great a degree of stiffness as possible, and I have illustrated several forms of binding units by means of which this result may be accomplished. For example, in Fig. 5, I have illustrated a binding unit ll which is provided with projecting lugs 14 at one end, which are overlapped by and inclosed within the next adjacent unit when that is applied, as indicated in that figure. In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a slight modification of this form of unit, at 15, the binding unit in this case being provided at one end with the extensions 15 and at the opposite end with longitudinally disposed recesses 15 to accommodate the extensions of the adjacent unit, and in Fig. 7 I have shown a unit 16 provided with extensions 16 16, which are offset inardly toward the center of the unit, which makes it unnecessary to provide recesses in the adjacent unit to receive the same, and at the same time secures a uniformly smooth and even exterior. In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown another form of unit 17 provided with a single extension 17 in line with its exterior edge, which is overlapped by the next adjacent binding unit, and this extension may be oifset inwardly toward the center of the device, if desired, as indicated at 17 in Fig. 9. In Fig. 10 I have shown another form of interlocking unit 18, which is cut away at one end to form an upwardly extending locking portion 18, and at the other end with a transverse notch or slot 18 to receive the locking portion 18 of an adjacent unit.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a diiferent form of binding unit 19 which comprises longitudinally disposed side portions 19 connected at each end by arched portions 19", and inapplying these units, they will be preferably overlapped one over the other, as shown in Fig. 11, so that the portions 19 will be practically continuous. Fig. 12 illustrates still another form of binding unit 20 which is provided with a reduced portion 20 corresponding to the form of the unit itself, but having a less diameter so that it will fit within the larger end of the next adjacent unit, as indicated in that figure. The

lower edges or marginal portions of any of these units may be provided with teeth or serrations, as indicated at 21, for example, in Fig. 6, which will sink into the flexible materials and interlock themselves therewith to assist in permanently uniting the binding units to the fabrics, or instead of the serrated edge 21, the edges may be notched, as indicated at 22 in Fig. 7, in which case the materials will press into said notches and interlock themselves with the edges of the unit so as to become more firmly attached thereto, and I do not limit myself to the particular forms of binding units herein shown as no doubt further variations of the same may be employed with good results.

Any of the units herein shown and described can be made to bind a curved edge, especially if the curvature is not too great and the units themselves are comparatively short, as will be readily understood. In some instances, however, especially where very sharp corners are to be turned, I may find it desirable to employ a special corner u it, such as is illustrated, for example, at

in Fig. ll, in which the angularly disposed edges are shown as provided with units 1i similar to those shown in Fig. 5, up to the corner, and the corner is completed by the application of the unit 23 which may be curved or angular to conform to the shape of the exterior frame with which it is to be used.

In Fig. 2, I have shown the bag illustrated in Fig. 1, as it would appear when the edges of half of the mouth opening have been provided with the binding units, in this instance the bindingunits let and corner pieces 23 heretofore described, so as to form a smooth, uniform, and stiff inner frame or binding which can be very readily inserted into the channels 6 of one of the frame members 4, in the manner indicated in Fig. a, and as also shown in Fig. 1, in which portion of the channel frame member is broken away. Preferably both edges of the bag mouth will be bound in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and said inner frames or bindings will then be inserted simultaneously into the two exterior frame members in the manner indicated in Fig. @l, after which the frame members can be swung open and the inner frames or bindings may be permanently fastened or secured within the channels of the frame members in any desired manner, and preferably by rivets 2525, passed through holes drilled through the frame member and the inclosed inner frame or binding, and passing through the end binding units and the materials inclosed therein. Ordinarily these rivets would be sufficient to hold the entire bound edge permanently within the frame member, but if it is desired, the parts may be united by additional rivets, as indicated at 26, all of which rivets may be applied without any injury or rough handling of the frame members. It will be understood that when the bound edges are inserted in the frame members, the binding units will be entirely concealed from view.

In carrying outmy invention the binding units may be applied by hand and compressed or closed by means of pincers or a hammer, or other suitable tool or tools, and

I may also employ suitable machinery for smooth exterior around and upon small portions' of a raw edge of the flexible material to form a substantially continuous smooth inner frame or binding, inserting said inner frame or binding into the channel of an exterior frame member and securing said inner frame or binding against accidental removal from the exterior frame member and without closing the channel of the exterior frame.

2. The herein described process of applying channeled frames to articles of flexible material, which consists in clamping separate binding units of stiff material having a smooth exterior successively and progressively around and upon small portions of a raw edge of the flexible material, said units being in contact with each other, and forming a substantially continuous inner frame or binding, inserting said inner frame or binding into the channel of an exterior frame member, and securing said inner frame or binding and said exterior frame member together.

3. The herein described process of applying channeled frames to lined articles of flexible material, which consists in bringing the raw edges of the body material and lining together, and clamping separate binding units of stiff material around and upon the raw edges of the body material and lining substantially continuously along said edges to clamp the body material and lining together and form an inner frame or binding, inserting said inner frame, or binding into the channel of a "channeled exterior frame member, and riveting the inner frame or binding and said exterior frame together.

4. The herein described process of applying channeled frames to articles of flexible material, which consists in clamping separate binding units of stiff material having a smooth exterior around and upon small portions of a raw edge of flexible material, and overlapping each of said units upon an adjacent unit, to form a continuous stiffened inner frame or binding having a substantially smooth and continuous exterior, inserting said inner frame or binding into the channel of an exterior channeled frame, and securing it therein.

The herein described process of applying channeled frames to articles of flexible material, which consists in clamping separate binding units of stiff material having a smooth exterior around and upon small portions of raw edges, to form a substantially continuous inner frame or binding having a substantially smooth and uniform exterior, and clamping corner units upon said edge at sharply angular portions thereof, to form continuations of the adjacent portions of said inner frame or binding, inserting said inner frame or binding into the channel'of an exterior channeled frame member, and securing it therein.

6. The herein described process of applying channeled frames to articles of flexible material, which consistsin clamping separate channeled binding units of flexible nonclastic metal, provided with longitudinal extensions progressively upon and around portions of a raw edge of the flexible material and in engagement with the extensions of an adjacent unit, to form a substantially continuous stiffened inner frame or binding having a substantially smooth and uniform exterior, inserting said inner frame or binding in the channel of an exterior channeled frame member, and securing it therein.

'7. The herein described process of applying channeled frames to articles of flexible material, which consists in clamping sepa rate channeled binding units of flexible nonelastic sheet metal, upon and around portions of a raw edge of the flexible material, and interlocking said units with each other to form a substantially continuous inner frame or binding, inserting said inner frame or binding in the channel of an exterior channeled frame member, and securing it therein.

8. The herein described process of applying channeled frames to lined articles of flexible material, which consists in bringing the raw edges of the body material and lining together and adhesively uniting them, clamping separate binding units of flexible non-elastic sheet metal at different points along said edge. around and upon the united edge portions of the body and lining, successively, to form a substantially continuous inner frame or binding, inserting said inner frame or binding in the channel of a frame member, and securing it therein.

9. In a hand bag or like article, the combination with a body formed of flexible material, of an inner frame or binding composed of short channel units surrounding the raw edges of the flexible material, and

- secured thereto, and an exterior frame having channeled members inclosing said inner frames or bindings, and means for holding said inner frames or bindings Within said channeled members, Without closing the channels thereof.

10. In a hand bag or like article, the combination With a body formed of flexible material, of short channel units of flexible nonelastic metal, clamped upon and inclosing the raw edges of the flexible material in con tact with each other, and forming a substantially continuous inner frame or binding, an exterior frame having channeled members to receive and inclose said inner frame or binding and means for securing said inner frame or binding Within the same, Without closing the channels thereof.

11. In a hand bag or like article, the combination With a flexible bag body and a lining therefor, of a plurality of short channel binding units of flexible non-elastic metal clamped upon edges of the body and lining and extending substantially continuously along the same to form inner frames or bindings, an exterior frame provided with channeled members to receive and inclose said inner frames or bindings and fastening devices extending through said channeled frame members and certain of said channel units to secure said inner frames or bindings Within said exterior frame members.

12. In a hand bag or like article, the combination With the body formed of flexible material, of an inner frame or binding composed of short channel units, each inclosing portions of the raw edges of the bag body and having an interlocking engagement With an adjacent binding unit, an exterior frame having channel members receiving and inclosing said binding units and means for securing said binding units therein.

13. In a hand bag or like article, the combination with the body formed of flexible material, of an inner frame or binding comprising short channel units, composed of flexible non-elastic metal, each of said units inclosing a portion of the raw edge of the bag body and a portion of an adjacent unit, an exterior frame having channel members receiving and inclosing said binding units and means for securing the binding units therein.

14. In a hand bag or like article, the combination with the body formed of flexible material, of short channel units, composed of flexible non-elastic metal, and each having an extension projecting longitudinally there from, each of said units being compressed upon a portion of the raw edge of the bag body and the extension of an adjacent unit, to form a stiffening inner frame or binding,

an exterior frame having channel members to receive and inclose said stiffening inner frame or binding, and means for securing said binding units in said frame members.

15. In a hand bag or like article, the com bination With the body formed of flexible material, of an inner frame or binding for the frame engaging edges thereof comprising short channel units, composed of flexible non-elastic metal, and each having an extension projecting longitudinally therefrom, and recessed portions to receive the extension of an adjacent unit, an exterior frame having channel members to receive and inclose said binding units, and means for securing said binding units in said channel members.

In testimony Whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

LOUIS ALBERT SAMSTAG.

Witnesses SAMUEL M. HAMBURGER,

ALFRED L. I-Inorrr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

